Mechanical motor.



No 880,501. PATBNTED MAR. s, 1908; R. H. BOWMAN. MECHANICAL MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 1907.

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PATENTED MAR. 3, 1908.-

R.H. BOWMAN.

MECHANICAL MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 1907.

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No. 880,501. PATENTED MAR. 3, 1908.

' R. H. BOWMAN.

MECHANICAL MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. 1907.

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ROBERT HENRY BOWMAN, OF CANON CITY, COLORADO.

MECHANICAL MOTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 3, 1908.

Application filed February 21 1907. Serial No. 3581541.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT HENRY Bow- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canon City, county of Fremont, State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Motors and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in mechanical motors, and has for its principal object to provide an improved mechanism for transforming oscillatory into rotary motion.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel form of ratchet mechanism in which oscillating pawl-carrying members are employed to cooperate with the parts to be driven and impart thereto a positive and continuous rotative movement without shock or jar 'to any part of the motor mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a motor mechanism of this character wherein the direction of rotation of the several parts of the motor may be reversed or changed as desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide suitable mechanism for shifting the pawls of the oscillating members into and out of action and means for locking the same in such positions, and also to provide means whereby all of the driving pawls may be locked out of action when desired.

ith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein,

Figure l is a plan view of a mechanical motor constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same, Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the motor on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the same on the line 44 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a detail cross sectional view of the operating lever showing the hand levers in their closed and extended positions.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Theworking parts of the power-transmitting apparatus are supported on a suitable frame, which may be of any desired construction, the size and shape of the same being modified to meet the requirements. In the present instance the frame work consists of two side standards 1 and 2, and the upper and lower cross beams 3 and 4 respectively, connecting the standards and spacing them at a suitable distance apart. In the standards 1 and 2 are formed bearings for the support of the transversely-disposed shafts 5 and 6, from which power may be taken in any convenient manner and be used for the driving of machinery of any desired character. On the shaft 5 is mounted a gear wheel 7, the same being keyed to said shaft so that any motion transmitted to said gear wheel in either direction will rotate the shaft in a corresponding direction. The gear wheel 8 is likewise keyed to the shaft 6 and adapted to rotate its shaft when motion is transmitted to said gear wheel, 'The gears 7 and 8 are shown inmesh with one another which permits the shafts 5 and 6 to rotate in ,tute the driven members of the motor mechanism, in mesh with one another for the purpose as above specified, it is however, to be understood that these driven members may be made in any desired form, as for instance disks having ratchet teeth on their side faces, for cooperation with the paWl carryin members, (hereinafter described in detail), and the shafts 5 and 6'connected in any other manner which will rotate them in opposite directions. On the opposite faces of the gear wheels 7 and 8 are formed ratchet teeth 9, the same being arranged in circular series near the peripheries of said'gear wheels and provided for a purpose to be more fully hereinafter described.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 5 are oscillating pawl-carrying members 10 and 11, one on each side of the ratchet wheel gear 7, said oscillating members being in the form of disks carrying pivoted spring pawls 12 which are adapted to engage the ratchet teeth 9 for transmitting motion in the desired direction, according to the position of the several parts. It is to be noted that the ratchet teeth on one face of the gear wheel 7 are oppositely arranged to those on theother face thereof, and that the spring pawlsin the oscillating disks are correspondingly arranged, so that it follows that when the pawls of the disk are in engagement with the ratchet teeth on the adjacent face of the gear wheel 7, (the pawl-carrying members being oscillated in a manner to be hereinafter set forth) the shaft 5 will be rotated in one direction, and that when the pawls of the disk 11 engage their ratchet teeth on the opposite face of the gear wheel, the said shaft will be rotated in the reverse direction, it bein understood that only one set of these pawls are in operative engagement with the gear wheel 7 at a time.

On the shaft 6 are also loosely mounted the oscillating pawl-carrying members 13 and 14, one'on each side of the gear wheel 8, and as in the case of the pawl-carrying members 10 and 11, the pawls of these two oscillatingmembers 13 and 14 are oppositely arranged, so that when one set of these pawls 15 are in operative engagement with their ratchet teeth, the shaft 6 will rotate in a certain direction, and when the other set are working the shaft rotates in the reverse direction.

Each pair of pawl-carrying members are arranged to be oscillated simultaneously in the same direction, and are provided with outwardly extending arms 16 and 16, which are secured together as illustrated for causing such simultaneous movement. The outer ends of these arms are connected to the operating lever 17, by links 18, the said lever 17 bein mounted in. pivot bearings on the standards 19 and 20 and adapted to receive a rocking movement and effect an oscillating movement to all of the pawl-carrying members, one pair of said members being moved upward during the operating stroke, and the other being in operative engagement with the adjacent gear wheel on the down stroke, or vice versa according to the direction of rotative movement. For operatin this lever 17, hand levers .17, 17 are provi ed, which are preferably made detachable as shown, so that levers of different lengths may be used as desired. The operating lever 17 may, however, be connected inany desired manner to a suitable reciprocating or other motor of any preferred type for giving the lever a rocking movement.

It is to be understood that the pawls on the same side of the gear wheels 7 and 8, for instance the pawls 12 and 15 of the oscillating disks 10 and 13 are adapted to operate intermittently during the operation of the motor in one direction, and that the two sets of pawls, namely, the pawls 12 and 15 of the oscillating members .11 and 14, on the opposite side of the gear wheels 7 and 8 will operate intermittently to rotate the parts in the reverse direction, and in either case the pawls serve to give to the shafts 5 and 6 a continu ous rotar movement without shock or jar to any of tie parts ofthe motor mechanism. Suppose for instance, the pawls of the oscillating members 10 and 13 are in operative engagement with the ratchet teeth of the gears 7 and 8, (the pawls of these oscillating members being oppositely arranged as illustrated) it will follow that on the upstroke of the oscillating member 13 its pawls will operate to drive the gear wheel-8 to the left, which will in turn transmit motion to the gear wheel 7, the pawl-carrying member 10 being at the same time moved. in a downward direction which causes its pawls to yield. and slip over the ratchet teeth on the gear wheel 7 as it rotates in the opposite direction from which the said pawl-carrying member 10 is moved. On the upstroke of the oscillating member 10, the pawls thereof will then serve as the driv .ing pawls and tend to continue the rotative movement of the gear wheel 7 which at this time transmits motion to the gear wheel 8 in the same direction as was given it by the driving pawls of the oscillating member 13. As will be understood, upon this upstroke of the oscillating member 10 the member 13 will now be moved in a downward direction and its pawls will yield and. slip over the ratchet teeth 9, so that at the end of this movement they will be in a position to act again as the driving pawls and thus continue the rotation of the gear wheels in the desired. direction. This intermittent operation of the pawls continues as the operating lever 17 is rocked on its pivot, and thus a continuous rotative movement is given to the shafts 5 and 6. The pawl-carrying members 11 and 14 on the opposite sides of the gear wheels 11 and 8 are also adapted to be operatedv in like manner, but in this instance the several pawls and ratchets are arranged to give to the shafts 5 and 6 a rotary movement in the reverse direction.

As constituting the reversing mechanism for the motor, transversely shifting plates 21 and 22 are mounted on the shafts 5 and 6 adj acent each of the pawl-carrying members, and serve when shifted into engagement with the driving pawls to throw them out of engagement with their respective ratchet teeth. These plates are connected. together by a yoke 23 whichv is positioned between the gear wheels 7and '8, said yoke serving to space the plates apart and cause them to move together. In the extreme position of said plates in one direction, theplate 21 will engage the pawls of the oscillating members 10 and 13 to throw themout of operative engagement, and in the extreme position of said plates in the opposite direction the plate 22 will serve to disengage the pawls of the oscillating members 11 and 14 from operativ e position. It is also to be noted that the plates when in a position midway between their extreme positions, all of the pawls of each oscillating member will be forced out of operative engagement with their respective ratchet teeth, in which event the oscillation operating lever 17 of the motor.

of said pawl-carrying members will have no effect on the gear wheels 7 and 8, and the shafts 5 and 6 will remain at rest. For the purpose of shifting the plates'to their several positions, a lever 24 is provided, the same being connected at 25 to the pawl shifting mechanism and fulcrumed at 26 to the frame of the machine, so that as the lever is rocked on its pivot the plates will be shifted transversely in either direction as desired.

The upper end of the lever 24 is connected by a link 27 to a suitable hand-operating means, which is conveniently mounted on the This handoperating means comprises, in the present in- 27, heretofore referred to, is directly connected, said member 28 being capable of having a slight rotation in either direction for a purpose which will be hereinafter described. Hand levers 29 are pivotally secured in slots 30 formed in the member 28, and serve, when in their extended positions as a means for rotating the said member to a slight degree in either direction, so that the same, through its connections, as heretofore described, will operate to shift the plates 21 and 22 to their positions of adjustment, according to the direction the hand levers are moved. It is to be noted that either one of these levers 29 is capable of operating the shifting plates, but for convenience I prefer to provide two of them as illustrated. The

' purpose of pivoting the hand levers in slots formed in the operating lever 17, is to permit the same to be moved into a position substantially as shown in the dotted lines of Fig. 5, in which position the said levers will lie entirely within the slots and out of the way of the operator. The inner ends 31 of said hand levers are disposed at an angle to the body portion of the same, and to these ends are attached flexible connections 32, thus providing a convenient means for extending the hand levers into operative position. It is to be further noted with reference to these hand levers, that when they lie within the slots 30, their inner ends 31 project into recesses 33 formed in the operating lever 17 and thus serve to lock the several parts of the plate-shifting mechanism in the position to which they have been adjusted, it being understood that three of these recesses are provided for the three positions of adjustment of the hand levers.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a simple and reliable means for converting oscillating move ment into rotary motion. The mechanism described may be with advantage applied in the propulsion of road vehicles and the like, or may be used for imparting rotative movement to any desired machinery. Power may the shaft 5 for use when the apparatus is operating as a hoisting means as will be understood.

A suitable brake mechanism, such as indicated at 39 in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing may be used in connection with my im roved motor mechanism. This brake mec anism is disclosed in my divisional application, filed May 14, 1907, Serial No. 373,613.

WVhat I claim is 1. In a mechanical motor, the combination of two shafts connected for rotation in stance, a member 28 suitably ournaled upon said operating lever 17, and to which the link opposite directions simultaneously, oscillating members cooperating intermittently and alternately with said shafts for giving a continuous rotary movement to the shafts, similar oscillating members reversely arranged and cooperating in like manner with said shafts for giving thereto a reverse movement, and transversely shifting means so connected for operation that as one set of members is thrown into operative engagement the other set will be disengaged.

2. In a mechanical motor, the combination of two shafts connected for rotation in opposite directions simultaneously, a disk fixed to each shaft and having ratchet teeth on both of its side faces, the ratchet teeth 011 the face of one disk being oppositely disposed A to the ratchet teeth on the corresponding faces of the other disk and the ratchet teeth on one of the faces of each disk being oppositely disposed to those on the other face of the same disk, oscillating members arranged adjacent each face of the said disks, driving pawls carried by said. oscillating members for cooperation with the ratchet teeth in the disks, and means whereby the pawls on the same side of each disk may be held out of operative engagement with their ratchet teeth when the pawls on the other side are operating, whereby the shafts may be rotated in either direction as desired.

3. In a mechanical motor, the combination of two shafts connected together for ro tation in opposite directions simultaneously, intermeshing gear wheels fixed to said shafts and having ratchet teeth on their side faces, the ratchet teeth on the faces of one of the gear wheels being oppositely disposed to the ratchet teeth on the corresponding faces of the other gear wheel and the ratchet teeth on one of the faces of each gear wheel being oppositely disposed to those on the other face of the same gear wheel, oscillating members arranged adjacent each face of the said ge'ar wheels, driving pawls carried by said oscillating members for cooperation with the ratchet teeth of the gear wheels, and means whereby the pawls on the same side of each gear wheel may be held out of operative engagement with their ratchet teeth when the pawls on the other side are operating, where by the shafts may be rotated in either direction as desired.

4. In a mechanical motor, the combination of two shafts connected for rotation in opposite directions simultaneously, oscillating members cooperating intermittently and alternately with said shafts for giving a continuous rotary movement to the shafts, simi lar oscillating members reversely arranged and cooperating in like manner with said shafts for giving thereto a reverse movement, a rocking lever having connection with the members for oscillating the same, transversely shifting plates mounted adjacent the members for operating the same, a member journaled in the rocking lever and having connection with said shifting plates, and hand levers connected to said member for rotating the same to its various positions of adjustment.

5. In a mechanical motor, the combination of two shafts connected for rotation in continuous rotary movement to both of the shafts, and a transversely shifting plate mounted adjacent the 'members for disengaging the pawls from the ratchet teeth.

6. In a mechanical motor the combination of two shafts connected together for rotation in opposite directions simultaneously, a disk fixed to each shaft and having ratchet teeth therein, the ratchet teeth in each disk being oppositely disposed. to those of the other, an oscillating member loosely mounted on each shaft, driving pawls carried by said oscillating member and adapted to cooperate with the ratchet teeth of the disks for giving a continuous rotary movement to both of the shafts, a rocking lever having linked connection with the members for oscillating the same, a transversely shifting plate mounted adjacent the members for disengaging the pawls from the ratchet teeth when desired, and hand-operating means on said rocking lever for shifting said plate into and out of engagement with the pawls.

7. In a mechanical motor, the combination of two shafts connected together for rotation in opposite directions simultaneously, a disk fixed to each. shaft and having ratchet teeth therein, the ratchet teeth in each disk being oppositely disposed to those of the other, an oscillating member loosely mounted on each shaft, driving pawls carried by the oscillating member and adapted to cooperate with the ratchet teeth of the disks for giving a continuous rotary movement to both of the shafts, a rocking lever having linked connection with the members for oscillating the same, a transversely shifting plate mounted adjacent the members for disengaging the pawls from the ratchet teeth when desired, a member journaled in the rocking lever and having connection with said shifting plate for operating the same as said member is rotated, and a hand lever connected to said member for rotating the same.

8. In a mechanical motor, the combination of two shafts connected together for rotation in opposite directions simultaneously, a disk fiXedto each shaft and having ratchet teeth therein, the ratchet teeth in each disk being oppositely disposed to those of the other, an oscillating member loosely mounted on each shaft, driving pawls carried b T said oscillating member and adapted to co perate with the ratchet teeth of the disks for giving a continuous rotary movement to both of the shafts, a rocking lever having linked connection with the members for oscillating the same, a transversely shifting plate mounted adjacent the members for disengaging the pawls from the ratchet teeth when desired, a member journaled in the rocking lever andshaving connection with said shifting plate for operating the same as said member is rotated, and hand levers pivoted in slots in the member for rotating the same, said. levers adapted to be moved into a position entirely within the slot when not in use.

9. In a mechanical motor, the combination of two shafts connected together for rotation in opposite directions simultaneously, a disk fixed to each shaft and having ratchet teeth therein, the ratchet teeth in each disk being oppositely disposed to those of the other, an oscillating member loosely mounted on each shaft, driving pawls carried by said pscillating member and adapted to cooperate with the ratchet teeth of the disks for giving a continuous rotary movement to both of the shafts, a rocking lever having linked connection with the members for oscillating the same, a transversely shifting plate mounted adjacent the members for disengaging the pawls from the ratchet teeth when desired, a member journaled in the rocking lever and having connection with said shifting plate for operating the same as said member is rotated, and a hand lever pivoted in slots in the member for rotating the same, said lever adapted to be moved into such a position as to engage a recess formed in the rocking lever and thereby lock the mechanism in adjusted position.

10. In a mechanical motor, the combination of two shafts connected for rotation in opposite directions simultaneously, oscillatmg members cooperating intermittently and alternately with said shafts for giving a continuous rotary movement to the shafts, similar oscillating members reversely arranged and cooperating in like manner with said shafts for giving thereto a reverse move ment, and transversely shifting plates mounted adjacent the members and adapted for moving the said members into operative and inoperative positions.

11. In a mechanical motor, the combination of two shafts connected together for rotation in opposite directions simultaneously, oscillating members cooperating intermittently and alternately with said shafts for giving a continuous rotary movement to the shafts, a lever having connection with the members for oscillating the same, means mounted ad acent the members for disconnecting said members from the shafts, a rotary member j ournaled in the lever and having connection with the disconnecting means for operating the same as said mem ber is rotated, and hand levers pivoted in slots in the member for rotating said member, said levers adapted to be moved into a position entirely within the slot when not in use.

12. In a mechanicalmotor, the combination of two shafts connected together for rotation in opposite directions simultaneously, oscillating members cooperating intermittently and alternately with said shafts for giving a continuous rotary movement tothe shafts, a lever having connection with the members for oscillating the same, means mounted adjacent the members for disconnecting said members from the shafts, a rotary member journaled in the lever and having connection with said disconnecting means for operating the same as said member is rotated, and a hand lever pivoted in slots in the member for rotating the same, said lever adapted to be moved into such a position as to engage a recess formed in the lever to lock the mechanism in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

ROBERT HENRY BOWMAN.

Witnesses LAFE GoMBs, C. RoBY. 

